Isostatic fluid distribution system



Sept 8- 1942 T. A. BAKE 2,295,251

ISOSTTIC FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Fileduune 1'5, 1940 '2 sheets-sheet 1 /NvE/v TOR THOMA s A. BAKER BYISZ/LMMMlM,

A TTORNEY Sept. 8, 1942. T. A. BAKER IS-OSTATIC FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 m e w m A THOMAS A. BAKER. BY W Ml ,W4/ A TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Apmirniroosi comms. (ci. ca -ss) My invention relates to iiuid distribution systems and to the methods of distribution of iluids, both gaseous and liquid, 'to produce an isostatic condition. It is particularly applicable to Yair distribution systems used in the heating, cooling, Ventilating, etc., of dwelling houses, apartments, oflice buildings, industrial buildings, v arious spaces, and the like.

one purpose of my invention is to eliminate the diiliculty previously experienced, in the design and installation of conventional distribution systems, of obtaining a properly balanced or equalized flow of air in 'the required quantities to all parts ont the distribution system, particularly the branches and stacks leading to, or the outlets serving, remote parts of the building in which the installation is made. With the use oi' this system it becomes a simple matter to secure a well-balanced flow through all parts of the system, since distribution is accomplished under isostatic conditions throughout the length ofthe distributing mains, and delivery oi air in desired quantities at each branch or outlet is assured. Diiiiculties previously experienced with convenjtional systems ln selecting sizes for mains,

branches, stacks, outlets, etc., for desired air quantities, is greatly lessened, due to the assurance of an adequate supply of air at the required head pressure at each branch.

Another purpose of my invention is the standout the system. It will be clearly understood that the introduction of the pressure equalizing member or duct, hereinafter described, has a marked inuence toward the reduction of turbulence in rob the system of more than lits share of the treated air to the exclusion of the other enclosures in the system. l

A still further object of my vinvention is to provide a conditioning system having individual autolmaticl dampening devices for the enclosures to be conditioned.

A still further object od my invention is to provide an air conditioning system in which the distribution system need not be designed to have substantially identical pressure head values at all outlets.

' Still another object of my invention is to provide a system for delivering air to a -plurality ol enclosures in which the air delivered to each enclosure is automatically regulated'by an independently adjustable device. and in which each device prevents its enclosure from robbing the Vsystem of too much conditioned air thereby protecting all oi the other enclosures in the system.

A further object of my invention is to .provide a system for distributing conditioned air to a plurality of enclosures and to regulate the ilow o1' conditioned air in the system by a plurality of independently adjustable devices.

A still further object or my invention is to provide a heating, cooling, and/or ventllating system for a plurality of enclosures in which identical or different conditions may be set for the various enclosures and the enclosures maintained at those conlditions independently of each other; this to -be accomplished without requiringthe em- .ployment of secondary or `individual heat exthe air stream. The pressure equalizing memberclosures and the enclosures maintained at those conditions independentw of each other.

Another object of my'invention is to provide a heating, cooling and/or Ventilating system for a plurality of enclosuresin which no enclosure will 55 chamber.

changer :booster surfaces. Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is'a schematic representation oi a typical installation, embodying features of my invention and showing various modifications of branches, stacks and other parts of the system; Figures 2 and 3 are sectional representations of diilerent modifications of deflectingA chambers, Figure 3 being taken along the line 3--3 of Figurel 1, and Figure 2 being a modliication o! Figure 3; Figure 4 is a sectional representation oaf a portion of a distribution conductor showing one form of a takeoil junction and taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 shows a modiiied form of a take-oil junction and another modification of a. deilecting i any desirable shapes.

The distributing system illustrated generally by the reference character comprises, essentially,

enclosures and each is adapted to control the condition of the air within the room in which it an outer distributing duct E Within which is Suit- J ably held or mounted an inner pressure equal'- izing duct 1. This pressure equalizing duct is open at both ends to permit the'ilow of airtherethrough, and is entirely without openings between its extremities, that is, it is of a continuous construction.

The inner duct functions as a pressure equalis positioned.

The stacks I3 which are commonly concealed in the walls or floors, may be located in any con-3 venient place, and may be of any desired form;

rectangular, elliptical, round, etc. This distribu- 1 tion system may be used in connection with any energized air source, no modication whatever in source beingv necessary. The outer shell or v duct 4 is connected to the wall of the supply plenum chamber in the usual manner, ordinary ber-and is identied by the reference character 8. Due to the fact that air is allowedto pass from the Ydistributing chamber `8 into, the branches, there exists a tendency `for the head pressure to drop in this chamber. However, thisl tendency toward a drop in head pressure in the distributing chamber is oii'set with the result that an isostatic condition is produced, since air may now in one or more directions to the 'point of 'low pressure' j from a point of higherpressure within the distributing chamber and/ 0r the pressure equalizing duct.

In Figure 1, the reference characters -I, 2, 3 and 4 represent standard or desired heating, cooling, and/or Ventilating equipment. The reference character I is the return air or, blower'air inlet` connection; 2 isthe blower; -:i is the'heating or l cooling source; and 4 is the plenum'chamber.

In some cases air may be discharged directly from the blower 2 into the distribution system 5, or ducts 6 and 1,` eliminating items 3 and/ori. The inner duct 1 is held by any convenient means inany desired position within shell 6, so that air passing through the/distribution system iinds free passage through distributing chambers as well as through the pressure equalizing duct 1. The cross-sectional "area of the distributing chamber 8 andthat of `th pressure equalizing duct 1 may be substantially the same. It will be noted that the pressure equalizing pipe or duct 1 is somewhat foreshortened and bears such a length relationship to outer pipe or-duct B that a deectingchamber I2 is formed bythe disposalof a terminating cap II as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5. The mounting of the equalizing duct' 1 within the outer duct 6 has a marked iniluence.

toward the reduction of turbulence in the air stream. The equalizing duct 1 within the outer The ,distribution system 5 may be of any convenient shape, either rectangular, elliptical, round, or any other section, or a combination of Thebranches l9 may also be of any convenient"v section. The take-oir junctions I0 may likewise ,be of any convenient form, as may the terminating caps II, see ther .care being taken that there is no obstruction to free ilow o! air 'into the inner pressure equalizing duct 1 or distributing chamber 8.'- Both recy tangular and circular forms for the distribution system 5 are shown in the drawings; however, the form chosen is immaterial. 4

In operation, the air from the source, whether warm or cool, after having lled the system 5, flows in the distributing chamber 8 and through the take-o junctions I0 into the branches 9,

whence it passes, through stacks I3 and heads branches 9 will cause air to flow from the disl I4 into the room or space being heated, cooled and/or ventilated as the case may be. Naturally,

as air iiows from the distributing chamber 8 there is a tendency toward a dropin the pressure head therein. Actually there is only a negligible dropin pressure, since air at higher or initial pressure in. both the distributing chamber l and the pressure equalizing duct 1 is constantly available and will cause air' to flow toward the area oflowei pressure. Thus, air passing into lthe .ing chamber I2 as indicated by arrows in Figures 2, 3 and 5.l 'I his process of equalization" to give an isostatic condition continues as long as air flows into any of the branches. The use of the pressure equalizing pipe or duct 1 approximates the presence of a reservoir at a remote point in the system, whence a constant supply .of air at required head pressure may now as needed through branches located far from the main air source. It will be noticed, upon reference to Fig- .air flow conditions, as Well as conserves space.

urs 4 and 5, that ingress of air to a branch may be from both directions; from the side opposite the air source, as well as that nearest it.

Here appears another advantage of -my invention; branchesmay lead oir at a right angle to the-line of the distribution system, Without the interpositionof so-called transitions'or boots, or other deecting devices to convey the air in an easy curve into its new path as is necessary with conventionalunidirectional ilov'v installations.

after one or more branches have been taken o in the endeavor to equalize the head pressure.

In my system, bythe use 'of the equalizing duct 1, the pressure is inherently equalized throughoutthe entire length of the distribution system,

' and thus reduction in size, for the purpose or balancing pressures to gain desired air delivery "at various points4 of outlet, is` unnecessary. It it is desired, however, as a matter of economy or for other reasons, reductions in size of the distribution system maybe made without detriment .I5-tothe eiiiciency of the installation.

Since the pressure head in my isostatic systirely eliminated.

capacities much more readily without the use of excessively large safety tional duct systems.

The use of valves, vanes. transitions; increasers,

reducers, etc., may been- The various units which enter into the construction are few in number, and can readily be so standardized that a relatively small number will be required to cover a wide range of installations, thus reducing manufacturing, warehousing, and'installation costs.

` Due to the small number and the simplicity of parts required, material costs will be reduced, space requirements lessened, installation and labor costs lowered. y

For reasons of economy, compactness, and air flow advantages, I have placed the pressure equalizing pipe or duct l in the distributing pipe or duct 6. However, there are no reasons, aside from those stated, for such location, as the system will function as well if this equalizing pipe is located outside of pipe 6, parallel thereto.

Air from the room or enclosure, which may be called secondary air, iiows through an intake opening 21 into the regulating device I6 where it is mixed with conditioned' air from the branch 9 and then iiows up the stack I3 the outlet head I4 into the room or enclosure. 'I'he means by which the secondary air is drawn through the intake opening mixing the air in the control device I6 are described in my co-pending application heretofore mentioned, the detailed showing and description `factors and troublesomev calculations as has been necessary with conven- 21 and the means for and through combination and arrangement of .resorted to without departing from of which is'hereby incorpor ted in this application by reference, the same as though directly incorporated therein.

Although I havewdescribed my invention with a certain degreel of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way' of `example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the partsmay be the spirit and the 'scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention: n

1. A fluid distribution system consisting basically of two conductors one mounted Within the other with a radial 'space therebetween, the inlet ends of which are connected to a common source of uid supply, the opposite ends thereof being connected together to permit free interchange of fluid between the two conductors; the outer ofv said conductors forming a distributing chamber from which the ow of uid is led through branch conductors connected thereto the' inner conductor being of a continuous construction and serving as a pressure equalizing conductor.

2. In a. iiuid distributing system communicating with a iiuid source, means of obtaining inherently equalized of the distributing system, said means comprising the combination of a distributing duct with I branch ducts and a pressure equalizing member of a continuous duct construction mounted within the distributing duct, one end ot said distributing 'duct communicating with the uid 'source and the other end of said distributing duct communicating with one end of the pressure equallzing member, said other end ,of the. f pressure equallng member communicating with the uid source.

THOMAS A. BAKER.

pressure throughout the length 

